Chapter 3

The Business Research Process: An Overview

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The Research Process

The primary purpose of research is to reduce the level of risk of a business decision

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Exhibit 3-1 The Business Research Process

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Stage 1 Clarifying the Research Question

Management-research question hierarchy Begins with management dilemma

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Exhibit 3-2 ManagementResearch Question Hierarchy

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Exhibit 3-3 Formulating the Research Question

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Types of Management Questions

3-7

The Research Question

Examine variables Break questions down

Determine necessary evidence

Fine-Tuning

Set scope of study

Evaluate hypotheses
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Investigative Questions
Performance Considerations

Attitudinal Issues

Behavioral Issues

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2002 McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Stage 2 Proposing Research

Exhibit 3-7 Budget Types Rule-of-thumb Departmental Task

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Exhibit 3-6 Gantt Chart

MindWriter Project Plan

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Evaluating the Value of Research

Option Analysis
Decision Theory Prior or Interim Evaluation Ex Post Facto Evaluation
3-12

The Research Proposal

Purpose Legallybinding contract Methods Extent

Written proposals establish

Timing

Obligations

Delivery Budgets
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Stage 3
Research Design
Designing the Research Project

Sampling Design
Pilot Testing
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Stage 4 Data Collection

Data Characteristics Abstractness Verifiability Elusiveness Closeness

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Stage 5 Data Analysis and Interpretation

Reducing data to manageable size

Developing summaries

Looking for patterns

Applying statistical techniques

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2002 McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., McGraw-Hill/Irwin

Stage 6 Reporting the Results

Research Overview

Executive Summary

Research Report
Technical Appendix Implementation Strategies
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The Research Overview

Problems background

Summary of exploratory findings

Research design and procedures

Conclusions
3-18

Research Process Issues

The Favored-Technique Syndrome Company Database StripMining Unresearchable Questions Ill-Defined Management Problems Politically Motivated Research
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Everything must have a beginning Source: Cooper R. D. & Schindler, S. P. (2006). Business Research Methods 9e. McGraw.Hill

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